The Boston Red Sox earned a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park on Thursday in spring training action. Ceddanne Rafaela paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Brayan Bello turned in a solid outing, working 6.0 innings of scoreless ball with seven strikeouts. The Sox finished with 9 hits on the day while holding the Twins to 6. It was an encouraging performance for the Sox as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Ceddanne Rafaela was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. He put together quality at-bats throughout the game. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Sox offense.
Willson Contreras also contributed, going 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, Trevor Story chipped in, going 1-for-4 with an RBI, and Jarren Duran added to the attack, going 1-for-3. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Kody Clemens led the Twins offense with a 2-for-4 with a triple day. Matt Wallner also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double. David Bañuelos added a 1-for-1 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Sox pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Brayan Bello earned the win after pitching effectively, working 6.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 3 hits with seven strikeouts. He threw 69 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen was outstanding, combining for 2.3 scoreless innings while striking out five. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Tayron Guerrero recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Aroldis Chapman stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Sox struck first, pushing across two runs in the fourth inning. The Sox plated a run in the sixth. The Sox added a run in the seventh. Twins responded with a run in the eighth. Twins pushed across a run in the ninth. The Sox spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Sox out-hit Twins 9-6 on the day, with 5 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 9,635 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Sox, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Sox are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.